Igbo leaders tactically helping Nigerian govt in postponing explosion – MASSOB
Igbo Leaders of Thought including
governors, members of the National Assembly, NASS, the leadership of Ohanaeze
Ndigbo, traditional rulers and church leaders met at Enugu Sunday night and
pledged their support for a restructured but united Nigeria where there would
be justice, equity and fairness. . President Yemi Osinbajo exchanging
pleasantries with Former Finance Minister, Kalu Idika Kalu (l) during the
meeting between the Presidency at South east Leaders of Thought at the State
House, Abuja. Photo by Abayomi Adeshida The Movement for the Actualization of
the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, has however, rejected the opposition of
the Igbo leaders to the splitting of the country, saying that the leaders were
helping the Nigerian government to delay the imminent disintegration of the
country.
The leader of MASSOB, Comrade
Uchenna Madu, made this known in a statement in Enugu, Sunday, stressing that
the leaders had always avoided the issues that that had fuelled the Biafra
agitation, whenever they had the opportunity to sit with the presidency
officials. Madu said “we are not interested in restructuring of Nigeria because
the foundation and intention of establishing Nigeria as a state does not favour
restructuring.” However, those who attended the Igbo leaders’ meeting included
the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo, all the five
governors of South East geopolitical zone led by Chief Dave Umahi of Ebonyi
State, Hon Ifeanyi Ugwanyi (Enugu), Chief Willie Obiano (Anambra); Owelle Rochas
Okorocha (Imo), Dr Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), members of the National Assembly as
well as the former Chief of General Staff, CGS, during the General Ibrahim
Babangida’s administration, Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe, retd. They also included the
Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, former Senate President, Ken Nnamani,
Chairman of South East Caucus in the National Assembly, Senator Enyinnaya
Abaribe, former Governor of the Central Bank, CBN, Prof Chukwuma Soludo,
Senator Sam Egwu, the Catholic Bishop of Nsukka, Prof Godfrey Onah, the
Archbishop of Enugu Diocese of the Anglican Communion, Dr Emmanuel Chukwuma,
the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe, the National Chairman of the United
People’s Party, UPP, Chief Chekwas Okorie, Prof Barth Nnaji, Mrs. Josephine Aneni,
and Senator Gill Nnaji among others.
In a communique read by the Chairman of the
South East Governors’ Forum, Chief Dave Umahi, after the meeting which lasted
till the early hours of Sunday, the Igbo leaders declared their full support
for a united Nigeria, where peace, justice, love and fairness reigned supreme.
The seven-point communique read, “This a
communique arising from a meeting of South East governors, members of National
Assembly, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, our traditional fathers, spiritual fathers and some
selected Igbo leaders of Thought on the state of the Nation. It was held today,
the 1st day of July, 2017 at Nike Lake Resort Hotel, Enugu. “We deliberated on
a number of issues and we arrived at the followings: That Ndigbo are in full
support of a united Nigeria, where peace, love, fairness, justice, equity and
equality of opportunities are paramount, regardless of creed, ethnicity, gender
or political affiliation. “We condemn all hate speeches and misconducts from
any segments of the country. That Igbo leaders lend their full support to the
restructuring of the federal republic of Nigeria on the platform of fairness
and equity. We therefore call on the federal government and all Nigerian
leaders to commence a process of dialogue among Nigerians on the modalities of
achieving this pressing question within a reasonable time frame.
“That Ndigbo support the report of the
National Conference of 2014 and we urge the federal government to set up
structures that will enable the implementation of the same within a reasonable
time. “That the South East Governors, members of the National Assembly,
leadership from the south east and the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo shall
henceforth constitute the official organs that shall speak on behalf of Ndigbo.
“That south east leaders in consultation with other parts of the country, will
set up a committee to engage the Federal Government on all issues that concern
Ndigbo. “The south east leaders are taking steps to ensure the safety of lives
and property of our people in all parts of Nigeria, just as we guarantee the
safety of lives and property of all other Nigerians living within our domain,
that is south east.
Thank you very much and God Bless
you.” The statement by MASSOB signed by its Leader, Comrade Madu, and entitled
“MASSOB blasts Igbo Religious, Traditional, Political & Opinion leaders for
their nonchalant and insensitive attitude towards the current consciousness and
realities of Biafra,” read, “Why is it that whenever these self-acclaimed Igbo
leaders meet among themselves or with the Nigeria presidency, they always
side-lined the primary and principal reasons and cause of Biafra agitation?
“Yesterday’s meeting of Igbo leaders in Enugu is tactically helping Nigeria
government in postponing the explosion of the inevitable and unstoppable
ticking time bomb which Nigeria comfortably sat on. “Their decisions are not
the true minds and positions of the people of Biafra.
We want Biafra and nothing but
Biafra. Nigeria must disintegrate, her faulty foundation has broken beyond
repair. “The non-violence struggle for Biafra actualisation and restoration is
a reactionary revolution against the continued neglect, political injustices /
imbalance of federal structures against Ndigbo by successive governments of
Nigeria since 1970. We are in this self-determination struggle because of
political, economic, academic, religious slavery which the government of
Nigeria had subjected Ndigbo into in Nigeria. “MASSOB and other genuine pro
Biafra groups are in the Biafra struggle because of the grand plan to Islamize
the people of Biafra with subtle and harsh economic policies against Biafrans.
“We are in the struggle to counter and correct the evil plot to enslave our
children and their future,. We are in the struggle re -establish and revive the
tenacity, economic independence and industrial nature of Ndigbo which
astonished the world in 1950–70’s.
“Truly, we are in the struggle to
restore the dignity, culture and integrity of Ndigbo. In this struggle,
numerous sacrifices have been made. Supreme prices are being paid; we have been
tortured, mesmerised, killed, incarcerated for the sake of Biafra and glory of
Ndigbo yet we are neglected, abused and abandoned by people who benefit from
our exploits. “MASSOB and other agitators are the political masquerades and
glory of Ndigbo as Book Haram is to Hausa Fulani; OPC to Oduduwa and Niger
Delta militants to South -South. MASSOB still has high respect to few Igbo
leaders who unflinchingly and boldly defend the interests and course of Biafra
agitators. “Majority of Igbo leaders have brazenly betrayed the Igbo cause and
interest in Nigeria. We wish to inform Ndigbo that the reawakening of the
spirit and consciousness of Biafra among the people of Biafra can never be
demoralised again; the Biafra revolutionary struggle can no longer be betrayed
by personal or group interest.”